Vote: CSM Fall Athletes of the Week Sept. 15-21

Ten athletes around Central Illinois proved that they’re truly in midseason form, stacking up many notable showings on the football field, golf and cross country course, volleyball court and in the pool. 

This week’s nominees for CSM Fall Athletes of the Week include a pair of recent winners in cross country, football players who reached the end zone at least three times, golfers who went low and standouts from soccer, volleyball and swimming.

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UPDATE: Bloomington Central Catholic's Jack Wyse and Normal West's Maddie Bierbaum won CSM Fall Athletes of the Week after receiving the most votes in their polls. Voting closed at 11:59 PM Thursday.

CSM Boys Athlete of the Week nominees

Jaiduan Cranford, Metamora football

Cranford exploded for the Redbirds in a back-and-forth 43-40 win over Morton, scoring four total touchdowns, including the go-ahead one. The Metamora running back ran for 206 yards and three touchdowns and added a 70-yard receiving touchdown as well. 

Court Bohanon, Washington boys golf

Bohanon went on a hot streak for Washington, shooting a collective 141 to finish second overall out of 180 golfers at the 36-hole Pekin Dragon Classic on Sept. 19 and 20. Bohanon shot a 70 at Pekin Country Club and followed it up with a 71 at Lick Creek Golf Course. He also helped the Panthers finish an undefeated Mid-Illini season as they beat Dunlap and Morton on Sept. 17 and carded a 38 to tie for second in a Washington victory over Richwoods on Sept. 15. 

Jack Wyse, Bloomington Central Catholic boys soccer

Wyse put four goals in the back of the net for the Saints, who picked up two victories last week. The junior forward had three scores to go with two assists in an 8-0 conference win over Tolono Unity on Sept. 16 added one more in a 3-0 win against Decatur St. Teresa on Sept. 20. Additionally, Wyse scored BCC’s lone goal in a narrow 2-1 defeat to state power St. Joseph-Ogden on Sept. 18. 

AJ Ince, Normal Community boys cross country

Ince came out on top in his first-ever time running at the Dunlap Invitational, winning the event in 15:18.60. That mark was a season-best for Ince and led Normal Community to a fifth-place finish. 

Jayvion Maxon, El Paso-Gridley football

Maxon and the El Paso-Gridley offense lit it up in a massive 52-14 win over Class 1A No. 4 Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley. The Titans’ wide receiver caught nine passes for 172 yards in the win, including three touchdowns from quarterback Owen Adams. 

CSM Girls Athlete of the Week nominees

Grace Small, Olympia volleyball

Small led Olympia’s offense as the rapidly-improving Spartans picked up six victories and won Fieldcrest’s tournament on Sept. 20. In five games at the tournament, Small put up 44 kills, 33 digs and six aces to lead the team, which beat the host Knights for the title, in all three categories. Small also slammed home a combined 27 kills in wins over Prairie Central on Sept. 15 and Auburn on Sept. 18, including a 10-kill, 10-dig performance against the Trojans. 

Morgan Coker, Pekin girls cross country 

Coker returned to the winner’s circle at the Mid-Illini Pre-Conference Meet, winning the race and leading the Dragons to the team title. Coker ran a 19:49.7 at the event to capture gold. She also finished 45th overall and second among area runners at the Richard Spring Invite on Sept. 20, running a personal-best 17:56.5 at Detweiller Park. 

Acosia Morris, Richwoods girls flag football

Morris put up video game numbers for the 6-2 Knights in a pair of victories against Champaign Centennial and Champaign Central on Sept. 20. She did a bit of everything in a 45-18 win against Centennial, rushing 12 times for 301 yards and two touchdowns, adding three tackles and an interception on defense, plus punting two times for 83 yards. In a 38-22 win over Champaign Central, she racked up 279 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 12 carries, plus three tackles. 

Maddie Bierbaum, Normal West girls golf

Normal West’s freshman standout had a pair of strong rounds for the Wildcats, including a 38 at Kellogg Golf Course to win a Big 12 triangular against Peoria Notre Dame and Richwoods on Sept. 16. Bierbaum additionally fired a 77 at Wolf Creek Golf Club in Pontiac to finish eighth at the Livingston County Invitational. 

Brynlee Pufahl, Dunlap girls swimming

Pufahl won three races for the Eagles to help them defeat Pekin in a close 101-81 duel on Sept. 17 and also assisted Dunlap in beating Normal Community on Sept. 15. Against Pekin, Pufahl won the 200 free (2:14.88), 100 fly (1:05.53) and swam on Dunlap’s 400 free relay that took first place in 4:06.61.